Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-11-04
BY AN UNKNOWN AUTHOR.

Thi. story is the story of the adventures of
a very remarkable gem--none other, in facf,
than the Great Ruby Of Ceylon; and it lifts
at least in part the veil which for some years
has hidden certain mystery of the sea
To make all clear, must go back half
century. and begin with the strange and I'M
accountable will made in the year of grace
1887 BY my grandfather, Amos Trenoweth
of Lantrig, in the county of Cornwall
The will was dated June 18th, 1897, and
| ran as follows:
II, Amos Trenoweth of Lantrig, in the
Parish Of PoIkimbra and County of Corn
wall feeling in this year of Grace Eighteen
hundred amt thirty-sesen, that my Bodily
| Powers are falling and knowing the muta
| bility of earthly things, do hereby command
| and enloin that. if at any time lie or me-
| Descendants be in stress and tribulauon OF
poverty. the Head of our family OF Treno-
weth shall strictly and faithfully obey these
| nv Latest Directions. He shall take ship
| and 20 unto Bombey, in India, 10 the house
| of Elihu SanIerson, Esq, or his Heirs, and
there. presenting in person this my last Ill
| and Testiment. together with the Holy Bible
now living in the third drawer OF my rItlng
| Desk shall duy and scrupulously execute
| such instructions the said Elihu Sanderson
or his Heirs shall lay upon him
| Also | command and enjoin, under pain
| Of NV DYING Curse that the Iron Key now
hanging from the Middle Beam in the Front
Parlor be not touched or moved until he who
| undertakes the Task shall have returned and
have crossed the threshold of Lantrig, having
| lnly performed all the said Instructions. And
| furthermore that the said Task be not under
taken lightly or except in direct Need under
| pain of Griev0us and sore Affection This
| saw knowing well the spiritual and worldly
| Perils that shall beset such an one, ami nav
| ing been brought near to Destruction OF
Body and Soul, which latter may Christ IN
| His Mercy avert.
Amos rRRNOwETH"
Nv father showed the will to no one, Mat,
ters went we'll until about four years after his
marriage with Margtry Treaty., my mother,
| in old Polkmbra church. Then everything
seemed to turn wrong
At last il wac determined with the fearful
| consent of my mother, that he should start TO
| seek this Elihu Sanders0n of Bombay, and,
with good fortune, save the failing house OF
the Trenoweths.
II was long before we heard from him at
Bombay. He had found what he sought, SO
he said. but could not rightly understand its
value, or. indeed make head or tail of il by
himself. and dared not ask strangers to help
him.
For the rest he had been stricken with ii
feyer---a malay common enough in those
| parts---but was better, and would start IN
something over a week in the bark Belle
Fortune.
The ship would be due about October or
| perhaps November. With the coming of
October came dirty weather, and strong
sou'westery wind. that gathered day by day,
until at last upon the evening of Oct. ii
broke intos gale,
was reused from sleep with the glare of a
candle in my eyes. to my mother i'll white,
standing by the bed and in her eyes an awful
ul-sickening horror.
Jasper, Jasper wake up and listen.
Shril and distinct above the roar of the
storm there rose prolonged wall. or rather
shrek, as of many human voices, rising
slowly in one passionate appeal TO the mercy
of heayen---a cry that rings IN m. ears even
now and will continue until die.
Morning came at last, and with the first
gray light resolved to go down to the gloomy
column of rock connected with the great
cliff only at high tide that guards our cove to
the south II went 10y the name of Dead
Mans Rock.
As clambcred up 10 watch the sea---it
was scarcely dawn---I noticed t sailors cap
living on ledge just above the wave. Look
ing mp saw a stranger advancing towards
me along the edge of the lido.
What base YOU seem" and the half
naked man caught me by the arm with a
nervous grip.
"Cnly cap, sir" said shrinking only
cap; but climbed up on Dead Mans Rock
Just now the rock at the end of the beach
land saw a cap laying there and it seemed
| -"
Come along and show il to me-" he began
to run over the sands towards the rock
dragging me helpless after him.
The cap still hung there, and nay companion
scrambled down and picked ii up all the
while muttering to himself AS if unconscious
of my presence.
Presently he turned toward me. stared with
out word. then suddenly asked:
| What is your nameY
| Truly this man had the strangest manner
of questioning, However, answered him
| duly.
| Jasper TrenOweth."
God in heaven! Whst2 And was your
father Ezekiel Trenowcth?"
| He had started forward and was staring at
me with q wild surprise. Dreading to hear
the answer. vet wildly anxious, | cried;
ooh, yes; do you know him? He was
coming home from Ceyion and mother was
so anxious. aud then. what with the storm
last night and the cry that We beard we were
so frightened! Oh do you know---do you
think"
| Il sailed" said my companion, still exam
| lining the horizon, from Ceylon in the ship
Mary Jane. Consequently. if Ezekiel Tren-
oweth sailed IN the Belle Fortune We couldn't
| very well have been in the same ship. and
that's logic" said he
His voice was husky and he seemed to
have something in his throat. hut he went on :
well, it's a strange world. To think of
him being dead" looking ut the cap which
he had taken off his head
What, Father deadY'
NO. my lad. tother chap; him as this cap
| belonged to- All. he was a devil, he was !.
Can't fancy him dead, somehow; seemed as
| though the water wasn't made as could have
drowned him"
During his muttered soliloquy had turned
for a moment to look across Polkimbra
beach. when | saw, at about 80 yards dis
lance and advancing along the breakers edge
another man dressed like my companion and
also watching the sea.
What's the matter boy? Speak, can't
YOU"
It's man" said. mot 80 yards off and
coming this way He has on a red shirt and
is watching the sea just as You did. don't
think that he saw us"
For the Lords sake don't move. Look /:
is he tall and dark"
II can't see; but he walks with a stoop and
round his waist"
God defend us that's he Curse him :
curse him. Lie down--lie down, say, It's
death if he catches sight of Us -